Improvement in valves and valve-springs for melodeons



italici www A. L. SWAN, OF CHERRY VALLEY, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 88,925, dated April 13, 1869 IMPROVEMENT IN VALVES AND VALVE-SPRINGS POR IELODEONS, aac.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the sama To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, A. L. SWAN, of Cherry Valley, iu the county of Otsego, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Valves and Valve-Springs for Melodeons, Organs, Src.; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to malte and use the same, reference beingv had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specitication.

This invention relates to improvements in valves and the springs employed for closing them, such as are used in melodeons, organs, and other similar instruments, designed to produce valves which will close more tightly, and more durable and sensitive springs.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a valve and spring arranged according to my improvements, and

Figure 2 represents a similar view of the present arrangement of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the valve, which, according to the present arrangement, is packed with a piece of cloth', or felt, a, and leather, b.

As the leather'nust necessarily be. very thin and soft, itcannot be impervious to air, and consequently when so packed, the valves leak considerably; Rubber and oiled silk have been substitutedV for the leather,

but these being of agummy nature, adhere to the wood to air, and a surface that will not adhere to the valve-y seat, which I have found, in practice, to' prevent the escape' of air in' a great degree', and saving materially in the labor of working the bellows.

B represents the springs, as commonly arranged, for

closing the valves,'being bent at right angles at I), and fastened to the block E, by being driven into `holes therein, the other ends bearing and sliding on the backs of the valves, as-represcnted at F.

By this arrangement only the elasticity of that poxltion of the spring which forms thebend at D is available, the balance of it acting as a lever upon this most yielding part; they are therefore not as sensitive as desirable, and soon fail; moreover, considerable iiictiou exists at the point F, and they izannot well be taken out, asis citen required.

The combined strain of thegreat numbers of these springs employed in-an organ acting upon' the block E, by which they are supported, often causes it to yield, and become misplaced, and, iinally,.this plan of annu gement necessitates the employment of a guiding pin, el, for one end of the valve.

According-to my improved plan of arrangement, the spring G is made longer, and provided with a. coil at H, taking' into a corresponding recess in the back of the.valve,the rear end passes through a tapered longitudinal slot, I, in the valve, by which the valve is sup ported laterally, and the spring hooks on to a pin, K, traversing a slot in thesupporting-bar L, made for the reception of the said spring; the other ond hooks int a leather, or other yielding support, M.

' By this arrangement, the spring is made readily detachable; to remove the valves, the friction at the point F is avoided, by the action ofthe yielding support M, and a much more durable and elastic spring is provided, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my iuvention,.

I claim as new, and -desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Packing the -valves for organs, melodeons&c., with the cloth strips a, India rubber, o iled silk, or other substance, c, impervious to air, and. the thin leather layer b, all Varranged as specified.

2. The springs G, constructed and combined with the valves, substantially as specified.

A. L. SWAN. Witnesses:

ABRAHAM R. .Betonm D. NASH. 

